Around Town: So much is taking place in East Naples

You know, you find the strangest people in the strangest places! Here I am, writing for the Collier Citizen! I was honored to receive a call, asking if I would write a column every other week, and this column is my response.

First, just a little about this writer. You probably won't find any hard-hitting news, just a little folksy news about my domain, East Naples. Anyone who knows me knows that I love my community and the home I've lived in for 32 years.

I also love my job as District 1 County Commissioner, so readers will learn about things going on in the county as well as in the community.

In advance, I'd like to say thanks for reading, and please email me anytime with ideas, suggestions, information, comments and of course, news. I'd love to hear from you at donnafiala@colliergov.net.

Last week, I took a ride around the now developing Treviso Bay. We drove two and a half miles back from U.S. 41 East. The areas that are being protected for environmental concerns are carefully cordoned off and the road through the outskirts of Rookery Bay has been methodically designed with the help of the Rookery Bay staff so that nothing has been disturbed but the exotics. The melaluca have been removed to expose the beautiful old pine trees, with hundreds of acres held in preservation to house all species of wildlife and birds.

Crews are carving out lakes and beginning to build the PGA certified golf course, for which a PGA specialist is on duty every day. By fall, we should see the first buildings coming out of the ground. Stay close, I'll keep you up to date, and please write if you have any questions.

• I heard a rumor that the old Shoney's (which was sold last year to a restaurateur) was purchased by Fitzgerald's, an Irish pub and restaurant. They already have a great presence in North Naples.

Ah, and another restaurant named Hoot's is about to open in the Eagle Creek Shopping Center. They're just waiting for their CO. I've eaten at Hoot's on Marco Island a few times, and it's really a fun place.

And Carrabba's has opened! Our first official national chain restaurant located in East Naples. Looks like we're coming into the big time! I heard the first week they had lines waiting for over an hour, and it's out of season! Yes, they've discovered that East Naples people like to eat out. Of course, that would stand to reason — we have a lot of retired people who love to eat out and enjoy fun times.

• I hope many of you have stopped by Eagles Lakes Community Park to enjoy watching the children playing in the "Sprayground." This new feature gives area youngsters a little water park of their own. Extra picnic tables have also been added, and additional basketball courts are being built. If you aren't a "playground" person, maybe you are a bird watcher, then Eagle Lakes is the perfect place to sit and watch the birds. It has become so popular, the park is listed on a national registry for birding.

My goodness, there's so much to tell you, and so little space to do it. Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the paper. See you in two weeks.